Machine for sewing fastener tape and the like



Dec. 25, 1934.

L. ROSEMAN MACHINE FOR SEWING FASTENER TAPE AND THE LIKE Filed April 15, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 25, 1934. L. ROSEMAN MACHINE FOR SEWING FASTENER TAPE AND THE LIKE Filed April 15,1931

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 25, 1934. RQSEMAN MACHINE FOR SEWING FASTENER TAPE AND THE LIKE 4- Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 15, 1931 Z INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

'BYW

Dec. 25, 1934. RQSEMAN 1,985,743

MACHINE FOR SEWING FASTENER TAPE AND THE LIKE Filed April 15, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 32 4X ,1 a9

ATTORNEY-sf] Patented 1934 .L-IOFFICE *mcnnm FOR. snwms mammal an Leo Newark, mi. Application April 15, I931, Serial No. 530,111 14 Claims. c1. l e-z).

This invention relates specifically to a machine for sewing fastener elements, for example, eyes or eyelets, upon fastener tape 'or other stripsof fabric, although the invention may be embodied in machines for sewing other impenetrable objects upon fabric strips, garments or the like, or for sewingstrips containing fastener elements or other impenetrable objects upon the edges of garments, and for like purposes.

, One feature of the invention. constitutes an improvement upon the construction shown in my Patent No. 1,605,902 dated November 2, 1926, and relates especially to a machine in which the work, for example the fastener tape, is drawn or fed through sewing mechanism by intermittently rotated feed rolls which grip the tape or the like between them, and wherein stop means is provided to engage the fastener elements or the like to control the presentation of the fastener elements to the needle of the sewing machine and compensate for slight irregularities in the feeding of'the tape or the spacing of the fastener elements thereon, so that the possibility of the needle striking a fastener element is greatly reduced. In the operation of such stop means and feed mechanism, the stop means under certain conditions positively holds back or resists movement of the tape under the influence of the feed rollers, and should the feed rollers be per r'nitted to positively and unyieldingly pull upon the tape while it is being held by the stop device, tearing or other injury to the tape would result. I have attempted to overcome this diniculty by setting the feed rollers so as to produce a certain pressure upon the tape which would permit slipping of tape between the rollers when the tape is held by the stop. However, it is absolutely essential that the feed rollers grip the tape with sufficient forceto pull the tape through the machine and to overcome friction and to unwind the tape from a supply roll, and such force is so great as to prevent slippage of the work between the rollers. Therefore, this above-described means is not entirely satisfactory. In my above-mentioned Patent No. 1,605,902, I attempted to solve'this difficulty by providing means for entirely disengaging the feed rollers from a the tape while the fastener element was arrested tape and contraction of the tape which in itself practically defeated the object of the construction. I have found that it is necessary to maintain the tape under tension at all times, and under su'illcient tension during feeding of the tape to overcome friction and resistance to unwinding of the tape from a supply roll, but the gripping force of the feed rollers upon the. tape must be reduced while the tape is held by the stop device to permit slipping of the rollers on the tape so as to avoid undue stretching or tearing of the tape and distortion of the fastener.

Accordingly, among the objects of my present invention are to provide .a novel and improved construction and combination of a positive stop device and means for diminishing the gripping pressure of the feed rollers upon the tape while the stop device operates to hold ack the tape in opposition to the feed rollers; and to'this end to provide spring means actuating one of the feed rollers so that the tape is gripped between the feed rollers with sumcient force to ensure overcoming of friction and unrolling of the tape from the supply roll, etc., so that the tape shallbe positively and uniformly fed past the sewing mechanism, in combination with means for reducing the gripping pressure of the feeding rollers upon the tape when the stop device engages a fastener element or when the tape is positively held by the stop device and for increasing said gripping pressure or returning it to normal when the stop device disengages a fastener element, whereby the tape shall be maintained under tension at all times so that the stop device and feed rollers may effectively cooperate to compensate for slight irregularities in feeding of the tape or spacing of the fastener elements thereon and ensure against improper presentation of the fastener elements to the sewing mechanism in such a manner that the needle may strike a fastener element and become broken. Further'objects are to provide in a machine 0 this character novel and improved means for relieving the gripping pressure of the feed rollers upon the tape when the stop device engages a fastener element and for returning said gripping pressure to normal when the stop device disengages the fastener, element, and to provide a common means for both varying the gripping pressure of the feed rollers upon the tape and actuating the stop device.

Other objects are to provide'a machine of the character described which shall be reliable and durable, and at the same time relatively simple in construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages and results as will be brought out by the following description. Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding and like parts are designated throughout the several views by the same reference characters,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a sewing machine embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is an elevation of the end thereof on which is mounted the needle mechanism.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation of the stop device and auxiliary feed mechanism illustrated in Figure 3, with portions broken away and shown in section.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the parts shown in Figure 4, showing one step in the sewing operation.

Figure 6 is a similar view showing the step during which the transverse bar stitches are formed.

Figure '7 is a like view showing a succeeding step.

Figure 8 is a schematic end elevation of the driving mechanism for the feed rollers, and

Figure 9 is a transverse vertical sectional view on a reduced scale corresponding to Figure 8, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 2.

For the purpose of illustrating the principles of my invention, I have shown it in connection with a known type of sewing machine which includes a base A a standard B and a goose-neck C. The machine has the usual drive shaft D to be driven by a belt passing over a pulley E on the drive shaft. At the free end of the goose-neck C is mounted 'a needle bar F which is reciprocated in the usual manner from the drive shaft D. The needle bar is also mounted in a bracket arm G to oscillate simultaneously with its reciprocation. For oscillating the bracket G, I have shown a cam wheel H mounted on a counter-shaft I journaled in the standard B and driven through worm and worm wheel gearing K from the drive shaft D. The cam H has cam projections h to engage a follower roller L carried by a lever M pivoted to the goose-neck C at N and connected by a link to the bracket G. The roller L is held in engagement with the cam H by a tension spring P. The needle bar F carries a needle Q which is threadedand cooperates with a bobbin in known manner. All of the abovedescribed details of construction are old in the art, some thereof being shown by my Patent No. 1,742,221 dated January 7, 1930.

The work to be operated upon, for example, the fastener tape, is passed beneath the needle Q to provide in the work a line of stitching as the needlev is actuated. In the present instance the work is in the form of a fastener tape R of known construction including a plurality of thicknesses r of fabric in one of which is secured a row of eyelets S substantially equidistantly spaced longitudinally of the strip. The purpose of my machine is to sew these eyelets upon the tape by a longitudinal line of stitches 1 which is interrupted at each of the eyelets and has in continuation thereof a plurality of transverse bar stitches 2 overlying a portion of each of the eyelets. The tape R is passed through a guide 3 secured to the bed A of the machine and which also serves as a presser foot, the guide directing the tape in proper relation to the needle Q as clearly shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5.

For feeding the tape longitudinally past the needle Q I utilize a pair of feed rollers 4 and 5 one of which is mounted on a shaft 6 journaled in a fixed bracket 7 on the bed of the'machine and 1,osc,74a

at the rear side of the needle, that is, at the side of the needle from which the work leaves. The other roller 4 is mounted on a spindle 8 journaled in a bearing block 9 vertically slidable in a bracket 10 secured to the bed of the machine. These rollers 4 and 5 grip the fastener tape or other work between them, and the roller 4 is yieldingly forced toward the roller 5 to cause a gripping pressure of the rollers upon the tape, by a compression spring 11 interposed between the bearing block 9 and one end of a lever 12 which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends at 13 on the bracket 10.

The rollers 4 and 5 are driven from the drive shaft D of the machine, and as shown, the shaft 8 of the roller 4 is connected by a universal coupling 14 .to a shaft 15 joumaled in a standard 16 on the base A of the machine.- The coupling 14 permits movements of the spindle 8 with respect to the shaft 15. The shafts 15 and 6 are geared together by gears 17 and 18, the first of which is mounted on the shaft 15, and the shaft 15 has another gear 19 which meshes with a drive gear 20 mounted on a shaft 21 journaled in the standard 16. A pinion 22 on the shaft 21 meshes with a pinion 23 on another shaft 24 upon which is also mounted a gear 25 which meshes with a pinion 26 on a stub-shaft 2'7 which is journaled in bearings 270 on the bed A. The shafts'2l and 24 are journaled in a frame 160 which is pivotally mounted on and to swing about the shaft 2'7. The frame 160 is held in adjusted position by a strut 161 which is connected to the frame by a screw 162 and has a screw and slot connection 163 with the standard 16. This construction permits the frame 160 to be moved so as to vary the meshing relation of the gears 20 and 19, particularly when it is desired to change the gear 20 for changing the speed of the feed rollers 4 and 5 as hereinafter described. The shaft 27 has mounted there on a pin-wheel 28 with which meshes a suitably shaped worm 29 carried by a shaft 30 journaled in a bearing frame 31 which is mounted to swing on the drive shaft D as shown in Figures 6 and 7 of my above-mentioned Patent No. 1,742,221. The shaft 30 carries a beveled pinion 32 which meshes with a second beveled pinion 33 on the drive shaft D. The bearing frame 31 has a lateral arm 34.

which carries a follower roller 35 arranged in a cam race 36 in a wheel 37 mounted on the counter shaft I at the rear side of the machine.

.With this construction the feed rollers 4 and 5 are driven through the worm and pin-wheel .29 and 28 so as to feed the tape with an intermittent or step by step motion, each step being equal to the length of the desired stitch, which, in cooperation with the sewing mechanism causes a longitudinal line of stitches to be formed in the work as it is fed by the feed rollers. After the work has been moved by the rollers a distance equal to the combined length of the number of stitches, for example, 24, which should be made between each two adjacent series of transverse stitches 2, the cam race 36 and follower roller 35 swing the bearing frame 31 to disengage the worm 29 from the pin-wheel 28 so as to stop the feed rollers 4 and 5. Thereupon, the cam H oscillates the needle bar to form the transverse bar stitches 2. These stitches 2 may be superposed one upon another, or may be slightly spread by suitable means for feeding the tape such as shown in my copending application Serial No. 530,170 filed April 15, 1931. To prevent overthrow of the feed rollers when the worm 29 is disconnected from the pin-wheel 28, h

1,985,748 V v i tively locate stop each eyelet in proper tion of the gears and 22. The purpose of these gears is to permit changing of the speed of the feed rollers 4 and 5 by substituting gears 20 hav-- ing different numbers of teeth.

The feed rollers 4 and 5.are of such diameter and'they move at such a speed that they can move the tape a small distance, for example, one,

sixty-fourth of an inch, greater than the dis: tance between the fastener elements, to provide a slight latitude for adjustment of the tape about to be described. To ensure proper presentation of the eyelets to the needle so as to avoid the possibility of the needle striking an. eyelet and thereby becoming broken. I utilize with the feed rollers 4 and 5 a stop device to interrupt movement of the tape, in combination with means for diminishing or relieving the gripping pressure of the feed'rollers upon the tape while the stop device is holding the tape against movement by thefeed rollers. This stop device is in principle described and claimed in my Patent No, 1,605,902 dated November 2, 1926, but my present form of stop device differs from the patented' device in details of construction. The present stop device includes a stop foot 39 mounted on the end of a rod 40 vertically slidable in the end of the goose-neck C of the sewing machine which carries the needle bar F. This stop foot has a stop pin 41 adjustably mounted thereon by screws 42 passing through a slot 43. The diameter of the stop pin 41 is considerably less than the diameter of the eyelets S as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The stop pin is normally influenced toward the tape bya compression spring 44 adjusted by a thumb screw 45, and slidable upon the rod'40 is a sleeve 46 which engages a collar 47 adjustably secured on the rod 40 to raise the stop pin from the tape. This raising of the stop pin is accomplished by engagement of one end of a link 4&with a lug 49 projecting from the sleeve 44, the other end of said link being pivotally connected to a crank 50 on the shaft 51 mounted under the bed B of the machine. Upon this shaft 51 is another crank 52 to which is connected by a link 53 a lever 54 pivotally mounted at one end upon-the bed of the machine at 55. The lever 54 at the other end has a roller 56 held by a tension spring 58' in engagement'with a cam 57 which is mounted on the cam wheel 37. With this constructiomthe stop pin 41 is alternately raised and lowered from and into contact with the tape, and the movement of the stop pin is so related to the movement of the tape by the feed rollers 4 and 5 that the stop pin enters one eyelet upon each descent of the stop pin to the tape. The cam 57 operates the stop foot in timed relation to the normal spacing of the eyelets and feeding of the tape so that if the eyelets are properly spaced the stop pin 41 will enter the center of each eyelet. The

distances between the eyelets vary slightly due to inaccuracies in inserting the eyelets, and

slight irregularities in the feed of the tape by the feed rollers also occurs, sothat the stop pin may enter different eyelets at different distances from the inner edges of the eyelets, but the feed rollers will draw the tape under the stop pin so that the rear side of each eyelet will engage the stop pin whereupon further movement of the work will be temporarily stopped, so as to position to the needle preparatory to formation of the bar stitches 2. As above stated, the eyelets are initially inserted into the tape in approxi-' mately the proper spaced relation, but-slight inaccuracies in the spacing of the eyelets and in the feeding of the tape, are bound to occur time to time. with this machine, such inaccuracies or irregularities are individually compensated or adjusted so that it is not possible for successive inaccuracies to accumulate or be added together and cause serious dislocation of the eyelets relativeto the needle, but it should be understood that the machine is not designed to overcome inaccuracies or irregularities of great magnitude.

The parts are so related that when an eyelet is moved to a point beneath the stop pin, the leadinch as above described, into the proper position with respect to the needle for the formation of the first stitch 60 which traverses the leading side of the eyelet. (See Fig. 5.) The rollers 4 and 5 will continue to pull upon the tape until after said stitch has been completed and the bar stitches 2 are about to be formed. The stop pin 41 and the needle have apredetermined spaced relation, so that when the rear edge of one eyelet is in contact with the pin the next succeeding eyelet normally will be in proper relation to the needle to form the transverse stitches 2. Therefore, should the space between the eyelet in engagement with the stop pin and the eyelet approaching the needle, for example, be slightly shorter than the proper distance, then upon advance of the work by the feed rollers the stop pin upon its descent will be quickly engaged by the rear edge of the latter eyelet and will step movement of the tape by the feed rollers 4 and 5, i. e. the stop pin will oppose the tendency of the rollers to pull the tape the full regular distance. Accordingly the inaccu-- racy will be compensated. If the space between the eyelet beneath the stop pin and the eyelet approaching the needle is greater than the proper distance, the stop pin upon its descent will not be engaged by the rear edge of the latter eyelet so soon and therefore will not hold back the-tape, at least not for so long a period as when the space is too short, whereby the excessive distance of spacing is compensated. The possibility of .20 tolerance, for example one-sixty-fourth of anthe needle striking the eyelets is thereby greatly reduced and serious dislocation of the eyelets relative to the needle is prevented. The same action takes place should the feed of the tape by the feed rollers become irregular, and therefore any lack of uniformity in the spacing of: the eyelets or in the feeding of the tape is compensated or adjusted as each eyelet reaches the stop device. It will be observed that the stop device is at the rear side of the needle and engages the tape after the latter has been stitched, while in my abovementioned Patent No. 1,605,902 the stop device is in front of the needle. The present construction is more satisfactory in that the tape is stronger after having been stitched and is more capable of withstanding tension between the feed rollers.

An important feature of the invention is means for reducing the gripping pressure of the feed rollers uponthe tape while the tape is held back by the stop device, with the rollers at the same time maintaining a sufficient grip upon the tape to keep the tape under tension. This means is shown as the stop device and including the lever 12, the end of which opposite the. end engaged by the spring 11 is hingedly connected to the link 48 which raises the stop foot rod 40.

When the stop foot 39 is in its upper position, the link 48 holds the lever 12 so as to cause a maximum pressure by the spring 11 upon the roller 4, and thereby create a maximum gripping pressure of the feed rollers upon the tape. As the stop foot is permitted to descend by the cam '7 through the link 48, the lever 12 is permitted to swing about its pivot so as to reduce or relieve the compression of the spring 11 so that the gripping pressure of the rollers on the tape is relieved or reduced, while the stop foot engages an eyelet and thereby undue stretching or tearing of the tape, or distortion of the eyelet under tension of the eyelet exerted on the tape by the feed rollers will be prevented. However, the rollers 4 and 5 maintain the tape under adequate tension to continue movement of the tape under the stop pin to bring the eyelet into engagement with the stop pin, and under suflicient tension to prevent contraction of the tape between the rollers and the needle which might result in throwing subsequent feeding of the tape out of adjustment. The pressure exerted by the spring 11 can be adjusted by the nut and screw .device 61, or by screw '75 in Figure 2, or by adjusting sleeves 46 in Figure 3. When the normal pressure is correct, the reduced pressure may be adjusted by the screw 75 and sleeve 46; adjustment by screw 61 changes both pressures.

Obviously, the invention is susceptible of embodiment in machines in which the speed of movement of the work is retarded temporarily instead of positively stopped as above described, and also wherever it is desired to relieve the tension on work which is being pulled, as by the feeding sewing mechanism, of a pair of rotatable feed rollers to grip the work between them'for feeding the work to said sewing mechanism, means for rotating said rollers, a stop device to engage the work and temporarily interrupt movement thereof to said sewing mechanism, and means for reducing but maintaining the gripping pressure of said feed rollers upon said work, while movement of the work is interrupted by said stop device.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with sewing mechanism, of a pairof rotatable feed rollers to grip the work between them for feeding the work to said sewing mechanism, means for rotating said rollers, a stop device to engage the work "and temporarily interrupt movement thereof to said sewing mechanism, and means for reducing but maintaining the gripping pressure of said feed rollers upon said work during the interruption of movement of the work by said stop device and for restoring normal gripping pressure of said rollers upon the work simultaneously with the release of said work by said stop device.

3. In asewing machine, the combination with said rollers while movement of said work is in-I terrupted by said stop device.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with sewing mechanism, of a pair of rotatable feed rollers to grip the work between them for feeding the work to said sewing mechanism, means for rotating said rollers, spring means for actuating said rollers toward each other to grip said work, a stop device to engage the work and temporarily interrupt movement thereof to said sew ing mechanism, and means for reducingv but maintaining the force of said spring means on said rollers during the interruption of movement of said work by said stop device and for restoring to normal said force of the spring means simultaneously with the release of said work by said stop device.

5. In a sewing machine the combination with.

sewing mechanism, of means for feeding the work to the sewing mechanism, a stop device to engage sa d work and temporarily interrupt movement thereof by said feeding means, said stop device including a reciprocating stop foot, spring means for influencing said foot into engagement with the work, and mechanism for raising said stop foot from the work and periodically permit into engagement with the work, mechanism for rais'ng said stop foot from the work and periodically permitting the stop foot to engage the work, and means actuated by said last mechanism for reducing but maintaining the force of said spring means on said feed rollers when said stop foot interrupts movement of the work and for restoring to normal said force of the spring means as said stop foot is raised from the work.

7. In a sewing machine the combination with sewing mechanism, of means for feeding fastener tape having fastener elements projecting therefrom to the sewing mechanism, a stop device successively to engage said fastener elements and temporarily interrupt movement of the tape by said feeding means, and means for temporarily reducing the feeding influence of said feeding means on the tape and at the same time maintaining the tape under feeding influence of said feeding means while movement of thetape is interrupted by said stop device.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with sewing mechanism, of a pair of rotatable feed rollers to grip between them fastener tape hav-'- ing fastener elements thereon for feeding the tape to said sewing mechanism, means for rotating said rollers, spring means for actuating said rollers toward each other to grip said tape, a stop device to engage successively the fastener elements and temporarily interrupt movement of the tape to said sewing mechanism, said stop device including a reciprocating stop foot, spring means for influencing said foot into engagement with a fastener element, mechanism for raising said stop foot from the fastener elements and periodically permitting the stop foot to engage a fastener element, and means actuated by said last mechanism for reducing but maintaining the force of said spring means on said feed rollers when said stop foot interrupts movement of the tape and for restoring to normal said force of the spring means as said stop foot is raised from the fastener element.

9. In a sewing machine the combination with sewing mechanism, of means for feeding the work to the sewing mechanism, a stop device to engage saidwork and temporarily interrupt movement thereof by said feeding means, and means for temporarily reducing the feeding influence of said feeding means on the work and at the same time maintaining the work under the influence of said feeding means while feed of the work is interrupted by said stop device.

10. In a sewing machine the combination with sewing mechanism, of means for pulling the work to said sewing mechanism, a stop device to engage said work and temporarily interrupt movement thereof by said pulling means to control movement of the tape to said sewing mechanism, and means for temporarily reducing the pulling influence of said pulling means on the work and at the same time maintaining the work under the pull of said pulling means while movement of the work is interrupted so as to prevent undue stretching or tearing of the work.

11. In a sewing machine the combination with sewing mechanism, of means for feeding the work to the sewing mechanism, a stop device to engage said work and temporarily interrupt movement thereof by said feeding means, means for reducing the feeding influence'of said feeding means on the work but maintaining the work under influence of said feeding means during the interruption of movement of said work by said stop device and for restoring the normal feeding influence of said feeding means upon said work simultaneously with the release of said work by said stop device.

12. In a sewing machine the combination with sewing mechanism, of means for feeding work to the sewing mechanism, a stop device to engage said work and temporarily interrupt movement thereof by said feeding means, said stop device including a reciprocating stop foot, means for influencing said foot into engagement with the work, mechanism for raising said stop foot from the work and periodically permitting the stop foot to engage the work, and means actuated by said mechanism for temporarily reducing the feeding influence of said feeding means on the work but maintaining the work under feeding influence of said feeding means when said stop foot interrupts movement of said work and for restoring to normal said feeding influence when said stop foot'is raised from the work.

13. In a sewing machine the combination with sewing mechanism, of means for feeding fastener tape having fastener elements projecting therefrom to the sewing mechanism, a stop device movable into the path of movement of said fastener elements in timed relation to the proper spacing of said fastener elements and feeding of said tape to engage said fastener elements and temporarily interrupt movement of said tape by said feeding means, and means for temporarily reducing the feeding influence of said feeding means on the tape and at the same time maintaining the tape under feeding influence of said feeding means while said stop device is in the path of movement of said fastener elements.

14. In a sewing machine, the combination with sewing mechanism, of a pair of rotatable feed rollers to grip between them fastener tape having fastener elements thereon for feeding the tape to said sewing mechanism, means for rotating said rollers, spring means for actuating said rollers toward each other to grip said tape, a stop device movable into the path of movement of said fastener elements in timed relation to the proper spacing of said fastener elements and feeding of said tape to engage said fastener elements and temporarily interrupt movement of said tape by said feeding means, and means for temporarily reducing the pressure of said spring means on said feed rollers to reduce and at the same time maintain feeding influence of said rollers on said tape while said stop device is in the path of movement of said fastener elements.

LEO ROSEMAN. 

